Iranian diplomat among 23 killed in Beirut bombings

One Iranian diplomat was killed as the death toll in the twin bombings in Beirut Tuesday rose to 23. At least 146 people were injured, the Lebanese caretaker health minister said.

Ali Hassan Khalil said that the toll from the blast, which took place near the Iranian embassy in the suburbs of the capital, could rise further, Xinhua cited the state-run National News agency (NNA) as saying.

Earlier, the NNA said a suicide bomber blew himself up in a parking lot near the embassy at 10.15 a.m. followed by another suicide bomber who blew a bobby-trapped car near the embassy.

A security source estimated the weight of the explosive materials used in the explosion to be around 100 kg of TNT.

Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati called Iran's Ambassador to Lebanon Ghadanfar Roknabadi and conveyed his condolences for those killed.

Roknabadi confirmed Tuesday the killing of the embassy's cultural attache Sheikh Ibrahim Al Ansari in the explosions.

Roknabadi, in a statement, said he has "no doubts that the twin explosions targeted the embassy" and it accused Israel of being behind the crime.

The Lebanese Army Guidance Directorate said in a communique that "two explosions occurred in Beirut's southern suburbs near the Iranian embassy which caused a number of casualties and heavy material damages".

"Security forces cordoned the scene of the explosion and launched immediate investigations," the communique added.

Meanwhile, Iranian foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said the bombings were inhuman and vicious acts perpetrated by Israel and its terror agents.

"Tehran will seriously follow up the criminal act with due consideration," Marzieh Afkham was quoted as saying by IRNA.